Car-coupling.



F. G. REYNOLDS.

GAR COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED 13:13.1, 1909.

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CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.1,1009.

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' 970,553, Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

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UNITED s'rarns PATENT orrion.

FRANK G. REYNOLDS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HEI@ERT It.

KUHN, F COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

'State of'Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement '1 of car couplers and has particular relation coupler head 1 of the well known to that general form of coupler in which the J anney type of coupler head is employed.

The objects of my invention are to provide an improved construction of car coupler of this class in which the swinging of the knuickle to the open and closed positions, is accom lished without the employment of a knuck e or pivot pin and at the same time to construct a coupler which will have great strength and durability; to provide improved means for operating the knuckle locking mechanism and to produce other imrovements the details of which will be more ully pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fi re 1 is a plan view of my improved coup er, Fig. 2 1s a sectional view on line m.-w of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a reduced front elevation of the cou ler showing the knuckle in the closed or 100 red position, Fig. 4 is a detail view in pers ctive of the knuckle and, Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line y-. 1 of Fig. 1.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention, I em loy a anney t pe, said coupler'head being provided wit-h or recesses 6. In the rear t e usual mouth or recess 2 and jaws 3 and 4, the jaw 3,bein bifurcated to form jaw arms 8" and 3 ith the underside of the coupler head, I form a downwardly andparallel ribs 5 which are curved to formarcs of circles, as shown more clearly in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing. V ertically o posite the curved ribs or projections 5, form in the upper side of the lower jaw 3 correspondinglycurved ways portion of the coupler head body, I form a vertical rectan gular opening 7 which is adapted to receive Application filed February 1, 1909.

Specification of Letters Patent. lil fllltfill Sept. 20, 1910.

Serial No. 475,463.

a locking pin in the manner hereinafter dcscribed.

8 represents a knuckle body-of a substantially U-form, the outer terminal member. or tongue 8 of which is of slightly greater height than the body of said knuckle, the rear side of the upwardand downward ex tension of said tongue being curved, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawing, at 8*. In the up or side of the knuckle body 8, I provue a plurality of parallel curved grooves onways 9, the outer or first of these ways lieading into the body of the knuckle at a point in rear of its end .tongue 8*. In constructing the knuckle body I form the underside thereof, with downwardly projecting and curved ribs or tongues 10 which are arranged vertically beneath the grooves or ways 9 of the a per sideof the knuckle. The inner end o' the knuckle is formed with an angular end recess 8. Extending from the side of the knuckle body at a point near its inner or rearportion, isa curved pin or rod 11 which is'adapted to receive a detachablehead 12 at its outer end. I

As indicated in the drawing, the rooved and tongued portion of the knuckle liody is adapted to be movabl y supported within the bifurcation of the jaw 3 of the coupler head, the ribs or tongues 5 of the jaw arm 3 entering and being loosely embraced by the grooves or wa s 9 of the upper side of the knuckle and tie ton net, or ribs 10 of the underside of the knuc tle'cngaging in a similar manner the grooves (i of the lower jaw arm 3". The knuckle being in this position, the curved projecting pin '11 passes through an opening in the side of vthe coupler head and on the outer side of said t'oupler head,

At the junction link 14, the latter having at its lower end an outwardly projecting hook member 1 1* which is adapted to engage the head or enlargement 12 of the pin 11. The lever 13 is fulcrumed between ears or lugs 15 which project from the lower portion of the coupler head and from this fulcrum point, said lever is inclined downward, and inward to form a substantially hook-shaped termination 13.

16 represents a coupler operating rod, the inner enlarged bifurcated end of which is provided with a transverse pin 17 which passes through the slots 13 of the members 13 and also through the slot of the member 14.

18 represents the knuckle locking pin which I employ, the body of said pin being rectangular in cross section. In its lower half, one side of the pin 18 is recessed as indicated at 18 and the lower unrecessed end of the pin is slightly rounded, as shown in Fig.2 of the drawing, and formed with a forward and. lower side projection 18. The upper side of the recess 18 is inclined as indicated at 18. When the pin is completely inserted or in its lowest position within'the pin opening 7, its curved under surface is designed to be supported upon the terminal member 13 of the lever 13.

It will be understood that through the medium of the sliding engagement of the curved tongues and grooves of the knuckle, and coupler head jaw arms, a swinging movement of the knuckle between said jaw arms for the purpose of moving the knuckle to the open position shown in dotted lines,n1ay be imparted thereto with the same effect as if said knuckle body was pivoted in the well known manner by a knuckle pin between said jaw arms. When the knuckle is in the closed )osition shown in full lines in Fig. 1 of the rawing and the locking pin 18' is properly inserted within the opening 7,,

said pin engages .the rear side and end recess 8 of the knuckle tail and by such engagement the knuckle is prevented from being moved outward to the open position through strain of the knuckle of the adjoining coupler. When, however, .it is desired .to open the knuckle to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the operation consists in pulling outward upon the operating rod 16, thereby forcing the upper portion'of thc lever 13 outward and the lower portion thereof inward and upward and causing a lifting of the locking pin until its lower end projection .18 comes into frictional contact and is dropped into engagement with the upper side of the hook projection 1 of the coupler head.

As will readily be understood the result of a continued outward pull on the rod 16 must result not only 'in imparting an outward inclination to the slotted arms 13, but through the traveling of the pin through said slots and through the slot of the member 14, in impartin an outward incline to the latter corresponding in inclination to the members 13. This outward swinging movement of the member 14 must result in an inward movement of the hook end 14 of the member 14: and in a consequent inward is again swung inward to the closed posi,

tion, it will be understood that the knuckle tail will come into contact with the inclined upper end 18 of the recess '18 of the elevated locking pin and as the tail of the knuckle passes through the recess 18, its contact with the upper inclined end of said recess, will result in the pin 18 being lifted sufliciently to disengage it from the hook 1, thereby permitting t epin to drop again into engagement with the rear side of the knuckle tail.

From the construction and operation described, it will be observed that the swinging movement of the knuckle is accomphshed without the provision ofa fixed pivot point for the knuckle and it will be readily understood, that the enga ement of the grooves and tongues will a 0rd an exceedmgly strong connection between the knuckle and coupler head, thereby ermitting great strain on the knuckle wit iout dan er of breakage of the parts. It will also be ob served that the unlocking of the knuckle and the throwing of the knuckle to the open position as soon as it is disengaged from the locking continue pull on the operating rod, thus providing a simple although positlve means ,of releasing and forcing the knuckle out- 'ward.

What I claim, is:

In a car coupler, the combination With a coupler head having a bifurcated jaw, of a coupling knuckle within said bifurcated in, is accomplished by a single,

jaw,,and a plurality of curved concentric tongue and groove connections between said jaw and said knuckle, and means for lockin said knuckle in its closed position, said means comprising a member which lies in front of a portion of said knuckle to prevent swinging movement thereof, but which does not pierce said knuckle, the grooves of the tongue and groove connections bein continued entirely through said bifurcated jaw to permit the knuckle to swing bntirely out of said jaw.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK G. REYNOLDS. Witnesses:

A. L. 'PHELPS, L; CARL StroUon'roN. 

